A/N – Hey there, sorry for the long wait but I'm back I got one out before Christmas, hell yeah ;) There won't be another update until the new year, I'm bogged down in university coursework, it's bloody ridiculous that I've got all this work during the holidays, really doesn't put in the festive spirit, not that I'm really Christmassy anyway (probably just earned a lot enemies by saying that).
Just what to say thanks to all the support out there and your reviews are welcome. I only just realised as well that anonymous reviewers was turned off, that's now fixed, so you don't need an account to review, sorry to anyone that wanted to review previous chapters but couldn't. Anyway as always thanks for reading, all mistakes are my own and I hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Crazy :)
Chapter 8 – Strategic Moves
Naomi
OPERATION Swordfish, Day 2 – 14:00pm
After me and Emily were engaged a few hours ago we have been constantly on the run, running around in circles trying to avoid the patrols, which have increased in quantity. We really need UAV support because we're blind at the moment, every time we try and advance on the target location to where Freddie and the rest of the team are located hopefully, we run into another patrol or get cut off and have to retreat back to somewhere safe, like I said we're running around in circles. Where have been a few close calls but fortunately we haven't been engaged yet, our luck must be running low now though? Me and Emily could probably take any of the patrols thrown our way but it's not worth the risk, reinforcements would soon arrive and we aren't made of ammo.
We are hiding in a dry river bed covered in shrubbery, been here for the last 20 minutes or so. I'm fucking bored and worried out of my mind, the fighting's good to start with, it gives you an adrenaline rush and the first half-hour after we got engaged I was all hyped up but then it slowly dissipated and that's when the worry started to settle. I'm constantly checking to see if Emily is alright, she snapped at me stating 'she knows how to look after herself' and we haven't spoken since. The silence is killing me, I usually like silence but me and Em have always found it easier to talk to one another and I hate it that she's mad at me.
"I think we're clear" Emily states as another patrol disappears from view.
"Em"
"Yeah" she hisses coldly and looks at me with eyes with no emotion in them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all possessive and everything, it's just the thought of anything bad happening to you…" I trail off unable to finish the sentence I hate thinking about it never mind saying it.
Her eyes immediately soften, "I'm sorry for snapping too, it's just that everybody thinks the they need to protect little fragile Emily, I can look after myself I wouldn't be here if I couldn't"
"I know, I'll try to stop being so protective, I just care for you that's all"
She smiles, "I care for you too"
"Anyway, all those people had it wrong" looks confused, "You're not fragile but you are small though, I could fit you in my pocket"
"Cheeky" she slaps my arm playfully.
"Yeah, you can be my pocket girlfriend"
"Girlfriend?" she asks but I don't notice to grin slipping across her face.
Oh shit did I just say that, I freeze and my eyes drop the ground as I stutter, "Well… I umm… you don't have to be… its just you know… with the kissing and everything, sorry I didn't mean it"
She cuts me of with a kiss, "I'd love to be your girlfriend"
"Really?" I beam.
"Of course, probably not the best time to announce it but yeah" she smiles and I can't help but kiss her.
"Now" I start after several minutes a passionate kissing, "what the fuck are we going to do about the situation we're in, this entire area is crawling with Taliban."
She nods slightly and looks deep in thought, several minutes pass before she speaks, "Maybe we should head to that village we saw"
"What, are you fucking crazy?" I say incredulously.
"Just listen, if there looking for us the town will be mostly empty plus it's gonna be the last place they look"
That does make sense.
"And there's no way we're getting to Freddie now, we need some way to communicate" she finishes.
"Right, we'd better get moving then"
After a not all so long walk about 40 minutes without any disturbers, we arrive exactly where we were yesterday laying down on top of the cliff face peering down into the village below, it looks practical the same maybe a few less men with guns but they don't seem alerted at all.
"Looks quiet" Emily musses.
"Hmmm… a little too quiet"
"So how we going to do this, we can't go in there gun blazing"
"Yeah I know, we'll change into our civilian cloths to blend in and then search for a telephone, we'll leave out equipment here though"
Emily frowns, "You think that'll work"
"Best option we got" she nods in agreement.
We relieve ourselves of our armour and outer layers, I'm caught perving on her a few times, but can you blame there's nothing better than watching my girlfriend Emily Fitch undress, it's one of the sexy things I ever laid eyes on. And fuck it feels so good to call her my girlfriend. I've never really had a girlfriend before, it was usually just to distract myself until my next tour but Emily's different I actually want this to work out, she's not just a random shag although we haven't actually done that yet. We came pretty close after our briefing for this mission, I just can't control myself around Emily however it appears I have more control than Emily, she a fucking ticking sex bomb.
We both keep our main body armour on as you can't tell or see it under our tunics, we both have our side arms and Emily wants to take her M4, it's hidden under her tunic out of sight but you can tell something is being concealed it's a bit risky but we keep the as if we do get caught I want more than my side arm on me. We both scrub up quiet nicely and with a bit of make-up and our Hijab's you shouldn't be able to tell we're foreigners.
We put our back packs and armour into a ditch and cover it with soil, rock and shrubbery, I then take out all the C4 I have and set a trap up, so if anyone does find our equipment and goes to brevet it will blow them sky high.
"Are you sure that's a good idea" Emily asks me in a worried tone.
"Yeah, we don't want anyone stealing you stuff"
"But won't the explosion just alert them of out presence."
I roll my eyes, "If they find our stuff they'll know, at least this way we know they're on to us"
"And your sure it'll work" sounding unconvinced.
"Of course, this is my speciality after all and your faith in me is not inspiring me with confidence and is quiet frankly off-putting" I sigh exasperated.
"Sorry, I do trust you" I would smile at the comment but I pretty annoyed at her, especially after how she treated me this afternoon, where she thought I was doubting her survival capabilities and here she is doing exactly the same thing to me.
"Right there we're all done" I say acting as if I ignored her comment.
"It won't go off when we come to collect it will it"
"No, I know there the charges are and can easily disarm them" I look at Emily telling her with my eyes that I know what I'm doing, her face brightens a little but worry is still laced in her features, "Now are you coming or are you going to continue doubt my expertise"
"Sorry, just a bit worried"
I stroke her arm to try and calm her, "It'll be fine, we go in find a telephone and get the fuck out"
"Right lets do this then, do I look alright"
"Positively ravishing" I tease, "You look fine, we'll keep to the back streets, avoid the patrols"
We make our way into the village undetected, our disguises working as people walk past us unfazed. We stay clear of the main street, where most of the habitants are, it will only take one person to recognize us for the jig to be up. In the centre of the town here's a compound, looks like any other ordinary compound expect this I guarded by Americans, mercenaries by the looks of it as there aren't wearing any badges or uniform. They look like a right bunch od cocky twats if you ask me, steroids, covered in tattoos, smoking cigars, intimidating the locals obviously thinking they run the place simple because they're carrying a AK or 12 gauge, overall a bunch of fucking cunts in which I would gladly put a bullet between their eyes. I can hear them talking about the firefight that we were engaged in and that there is NATO forces in the area, I also hear John Parker's name being mentioned but I can't hear the rest of the conversation. Shit I think to myself, if they're working for Parker and they know we are in the area we'll most likely call off the meet.
I share a Quick glance with Emily, nodding slightly and we both make our way hesitantly of towards the compound to get a better view on the conversation the Americans are having. As we get closer one of them looks up at me, eyeing me suspiciously. I immediately flick the safety off my Carbine and grip the handle firmly, ready to bring it out if he tries anything. Not wanting to risk anything though I quickly make a bee-line with Emily following just behind me into a small street next to the American compound. We quickly make our way down turning several corners until we come to the edge of the village. I peer into the house next to us and it seems empty, nothing but a sofa and burnt out fire place. We go in and make sure the house is indeed unoccupied.
"I think it's safe" Emily says taking of her Hijab, while I do the same.
"Shit, they were Americans"
Emily nods, "Yep, mercenaries by the look of it, do you think…"
I cut here off knowing where she going, "That they're working for Parker, yeah I do heard one mention his name"
"You don't think that the meets here?"
I shrug, "Could be, maybe should wait here and see"
"Still need some way of contacting Fred, to warn him that place could just a distraction?"
"Freddie knows how to look after himself, if he sense's a trap he won't risk it"
"Still warn him though"
"No I agree"
"Okay, let's get search then"
We spend what rest of the afternoon searching for some form of communication, we don't find any but then again most of the places we searched were abandoned and the places that weren't, we didn't have enough time to look around properly before someone came. So we don't find anything by the time the sun is setting. We take refuge in the house we found earlier as it would look very weird for two women to be snooping around late at night. We decided even if we do or don't find a way of contacting the others we'll stick it out here, the unusually presence of mercenaries as well as Parker's named being mentioned leaves this place to valuable to be left unattended.
OPERATION Swordfish, Day 2 – 21:15am
We are both sat on the wore out sofa in his abandoned house, she has the head rested in my lap and I gently caress her brown locks. We've been here for the last hour talking about our families, she wants to tell me about her life growing up now that we are together, specifically about how she treated for being gay. I can sense the reluctance in her voice and reassures her she doesn't have to tell me, she can tell me when she ready not because where now an item.
"You don't have to tell me, you know" I tell her again.
"I want to, it just might take some time" she sits facing me, crossing her legs underneath herself, I copy her actions so she knows she has my full attention.
"I've always know I was different, Katie and the other girls were always on about the fit men on the TV or in magazines but I was always thinking about the women, it confused me at first, I tried to get myself interested in boys but it never worked. It was just before the beginning of college when I had my first kiss with a girl" Naomi face darkens slightly, "Don't get jealous babe, anyway it was after that a knew I was gay, there was no denying it but it scared the shit out of me because my parents specially my mum had pointed out on several occasions how she thought homosexuality was wrong. So I kept it a secret but I dated this girl called Stephanie, we broke up because she couldn't handle that I wasn't ready to come out to my parents, so the bitch decided to out me thinking we could know be together properly."
"Fucking bitch, where does she live" I interrupt.
"Why" she eyes me confused.
"So I can go beat the shit out of her" she laughs.
"Don't worry babe, I took care of that. Anyway after that my mum and sister proceed to make my life hell and dad was never around, always away on business. My mum grounded me permently, the only time I got out of the house was when I was with her or went to college but my sister made sure I never had a girlfriend or even talked to girls, she constantly belittled me and called me a freak and a lost all my friends because of it, not that I had many to begin. I felt so alone, so when my parents spilt I took the opportunity to jump ship with dad, even if he was in the wrong. He may not of cared about me as much as the business but at least he didn't insult twenty-four seven and he did put a roof over my head"
Tears start to well up in her eyes, a single one escapes and runs down her cheek, I quickly wrap her up in a protective cuddle and wipe the lone tear with my thumb. I don't say anything I don't think it would help, so I just hold her as she cries quietly into my shirt. I have never seen her more vulnerable than she is right now, it breaks my heart to see her like this, and I will do everything in my power to make sure she's never like this again. I can't believe her own family would do that to Emily, couldn't they see who she was, who she is, sweet, caring, loveable, intelligent, strong, stunningly beautiful Emily. Who cares if she likes girls, she one of the bravest people I know.
"I'm so sorry Emily, I can't even to being to imagine how bad it was" I say soothingly once she's all cried out.
"It's not your fault Naoms" she hugs my tighter.
"I wish there was something I could do" I sigh
"You already are, just being with me makes life easier"
I kiss the top of her head, "Do you want to get some sleep Ems"
"No, I haven't finished my story" she goes to sit up but I just hold her closer
"You don't have to do that, I don't want you getting all upset again"
"No I want to finish it, I told you the worst of it anyway" she smile slightly up at my. I lean down and press my lips to hers in a promise that I'm here for her and I won't even let anything like happen again.
"Okay, but don't feel compelled to tell me" I say as she snuggles into me, head rested on my shoulder as her hands play with one of mine, my other arm wrapped securely around her.
"I don't, and I trust you" she interlaces our figures and takes a deep breath preparing herself before continuing, "So after I moved in with dad I enrolled to go to med school only my dad wanted me to join to business at the same time. Fitch industries has a big medical wing so I thought it would be a great opportunity. Work for my dad for a couple of years, then go to med school with all this extra knowledge and experience, I thought it was great idea so I took up may dad's offer. It was good for a couple of months until dad wanted me on the REACH Project telling me I was the ideal candidate, I wasn't so thrilled but Katie had just been diagnosed with cancer and he threatened he'd cut off all support and I knew mum wouldn't be able to afford the treatments. I know she treated me bad but she was still my sister I couldn't let her die, so I did as my dad said."
"Right, that does it when we get back I'm having words Rob on how to be a fucking father, how the fuck could he do that to you" I explode cutting her story off mid flow.
"Please don't do that Naoms, you don't know my father" she pleads I can hear the fear and horror in her voice.
I relent, "Okay, I won't say anything but if tries anything and I mean anything at all while I'm around, he is going to be saying hello to my fist"
She chuckles slightly, "Always my knight in shinning armour" she kisses me on the cheek before picking back up on her story in which I'm finding it incredible hard not to find reason to smack everyone of the Fitch clan when I meet them.
"Anyway my dad didn't really see me as a daughter, so much as another way to make money, that's all my dad really cares about. When my mum and sister had found out, they went shit crazy at dad begging me to come home, but my dad still threatened cutting off Katie's treatment and as you so rightly put it earlier, I'm a stubborn little shit. Once I finally found out what kind of person my dad real was and the stuff the he wanted to do to me it was too late I was too far invested all I could do was suck it up.
I don't need to tell about the training as you've been through it yourself but it was horribly. You might think they'd go easy on me, never having any military experience and the fact I was the boss's daughter but no if anything that made it worse, I fucking hated it and I hated my father for putting me through it. I came closer to my mum and Katie because of it though, they accepted who I was and constantly pleaded for me to come home, I obviously didn't. It took time but I'm now really close with the both of them, I know the circumstances are shit in which we finally accepted who I was but I don't care I'm just glad I got my mum and sister back." she finishes.
"They didn't hurt you did they, during the training" I ask worried of the answer, I already no the answer be the look she gives me.
"Like I said Naoms they didn't go easy on me, the torture training was the worst of it" she stops when she feels me tense, "Did you do that as well?"
"Yeah" I stutter, this is one memory I would rather forget, "Out of my squad I was chosen for it, fucking hated it and would gladly forget the experience"
"I know what you mean, I really thought I had been kidnapped and that they were going to kill me, I never been more scared in my life" she shivers at the thought, "How long did last till you broke"
"What makes you think I broke" I reply cheekily
She smiles sadly, "Everybody breaks Naoms, everybody breaks"
"Yeah, I lasted two weeks a day and about eight hours, it's when they started using electrical methods I couldn't stand the thought of being electrocuted so I told them everything they wanted to know, only to find out it had been a fucking game, I was fucking furious for weeks" My voice raises with each word.
I calm myself down and look towards Emily who has a smug smile playing on her lips, "Two weeks and three days exactly, I quit for the same reason. The thought of doing that again is just terrifying. I could deal with the starvation and I got used to the beatings, injections and drowning eventually but the electrocution, no just no"
I raise an eyebrow at her, "Hey it's true I've got the scares too" she lifts her clothing up revealing her toned stomach and she's right, don't know how I missed it before but on her left side just below her ribs the skin wriggled and scarred terribly, it looks and feels a bit like sandpaper.
"Fucking hell Em!" I scream "You know you've given a lot of reason to beat the shit out of that supposed fathers of yours"
She giggles, "Yeah I sure I have" she sighs heavily, "After that though I learned I could never trust anyone never again, well until I met you and the rest Delta. There's still that voice though at the back of my head saying that my mum and sister are just kidding me along and I'm sorry to say this but you as well, that some where along the line you are going to thrown me aside." She starts to cry again and I hold her closer, "I'm sorry Naoms, I'm so sorry"
"You have nothing to apologizes for, nothing at all. You done nothing but be yourself Emily you are so brave" She scoffs disbelievingly, "You are Emily, you are so brave, and intelligent and so, so beautiful" I sooth, stoking her hair, "You. Are. The. Bravest. Person. I. Know" I punctuate each word with a kiss to her sweet face.
She looks up with adoration in her eyes, a wonderful smile on her lips and all of her features are glowing and it's in that moment I realise that I love her. I love Emily Fitch. And you know what the scary thing is, I'm not scared of it, I actually feel pretty fucking wonderful, invincible. I would climb mountains, swim oceans, crawl across deserts for her. Fucking hell I love Emily. Should I tell her though, this is a pretty perfect moment but we're in the middle of mission I don't want to distract her and what if she doesn't love me back, we've only know each other a couple of weeks. If she rejected me that would b the worst thing ever, no I not going to think like that, remember what Effy said 'take the plunge' and I'm going to take the plunge for Emily but when the time is right. I'll wait till were back on base, shouldn't be to long, two days three max. Yes I can wait till then.
"Thank you" Emily says quietly cutting off me epiphany.
"I…" Fucking hell, I going to say it, I've just told myself to wait. Fucking mouth, I swear the thing has a mind of its own, "I will never leave you" I decided to go with instead, pouring all the sincerity I can into it but it's not hard as it may not be what I want to say but the statement is no less true because I will never leave. It seems to work because I can see the fear disappear from her eyes.
"You promise"
"Yes, I promise to never leave you" I assures giving her a passionate kiss trying tell her with that, that I can't with words.
"Get some sleep baby, I'll take the first watch" I place my lips on the top of her head as she snuggles into my chest and closes her eyes. I wait till her breathing has evened out assuring me she is asleep, "I will never leave you because I love you Emily Fitch"
